Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps need to be taken before they will issue a notice to proceed for the first phase of HS2; and (1) where, and (2) when, they expect construction to start.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 11 February that the Government will proceed with HS2, the Final Business Case for the first phase of the scheme, between Birmingham and London, must now be formally approved ahead of the intended start of main construction works along the route in April 2020. The business case will set out the strategic importance of the scheme and allow a final decision by Government on its viability, affordability, achievability, deliverability and value for money. Approval of the case is as a pre-condition of HS2 Ltd issuing Notice-to-Proceed to its supply chain.